It's definitely nice to see Nadal taking it to Djokovic again. He's been doing that really well all year, with a little bit of help from Nole's dip in play as of late. After 2011 and into 2012, it was really looking like Djokovic was going to start overtaking their head to head, but it's amazing to see Nadal have such an explosive return from his injury, with 2 slams and a reaffirming of his dominance in the H2H against Djoker. If he can keep this up, the CYGS might not just be a pipe dream. He's shown he has great dominance on all three surfaces. The only problem is staying healthy and fit enough to get all 4.

Rafael is good but I'm a fed fan through and through. Mark my words... He still has some juice left in him, enough to win another grand slam. Upsetting loss to Robredo this unopen but he will comeback. Lets go fed monster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😄😄😄😄😄

I'm just so happy to see Rafa get back his form, and improve it. He's quicker to do everything, even serve. He and Djoker have both cut down the number of times they have to bounce the ball before service. To Rafa's credit, he only has to remove the shorts from his butt once or twice a match -- hey, that's a big deal! If we had asses like that, they'd eat our pants up too. He still does some fist pumping, but not like he used to when he was a baby tennis player, he's grown up a bit.

I get silly angry when he's called names -- I just do. I wish I were more mature about it, I'm just not. Still the best tennis forum online, right here!

I'm just so happy to see Rafa get back his form, and improve it. He's quicker to do everything, even serve. He and Djoker have both cut down the number of times they have to bounce the ball before service. To Rafa's credit, he only has to remove the shorts from his butt once or twice a match -- hey, that's a big deal! If we had asses like that, they'd eat our pants up too. He still does some fist pumping, but not like he used to when he was a baby tennis player, he's grown up a bit.

I get silly angry when he's called names -- I just do. I wish I were more mature about it, I'm just not. Still the best tennis forum online, right here!

Vamos, Rafa

to that!It doesn't seem to have bothered his game in the least either.The fist pumps never bothered me, a little flair when appropriate is fine.He never seemed to be arrogant about it, just excited!

I find it interesting that the player I consider to be the most conservative out of the top 4 is apparently the quickest to adapt and make changes to his game in order to improve.

Rafael Nadal suffers Rio Open defeat to Fabio FogniniRafael Nadal lost his first semi-final on clay for 12 years as he was beaten by Fabio Fognini at the Rio Open.

Reigning champion Nadal, 28, started strongly but went down 1-6 6-2 7-5 in two hours and 17 minutes.

The defeat in Brazil ended a 52-match winning streak in semi-finals on clay for the Spaniard. Compatriot David Ferrer will face Fognini in the final.

"I'm really happy about this match. I beat the best player on this surface," said the Italian world number 28.

"Rafa is always difficult. From the second set I played really well, and I tried to change a little bit to be more positive on court."

Fabio Fognini Fognini has four title wins to his name

Nadal's quarter-final win over Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas had finished at 03:20 local time on Saturday morning and the world number three was back on court on Saturday evening to face Fognini.

For Fognini it was a first win in five attempts over Nadal, who clearly tired as the match went on.

"I feel my tennis close, closer than a month ago, to the level that I want to arrive again," said Nadal, who has won 45 career titles on clay, including nine of the past 10 French Opens, but endured an injury-plagued second half of last year.

"The truth is that I lack physical continuity. I can't understand why, but I wasn't in good shape since the second set.

"I am getting tired earlier than usual and I had some cramps in several parts of my body. It's odd because in all my career I have hardly had cramp problems."

Fognini will be aiming for a fifth career title when he plays Ferrer.

"I'm super happy, and obviously on Sunday I will have to battle David, who has always beaten me," added Fognini.

Ferrer reached the final with a 7-5 6-1 win over Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer.